Harford County drug awareness campaigns earn awards

Harford County has been recognized for its efforts to combat the opioid crisis through an arts awareness campaign. The National Association of Counties awarded the county with its 2018 "Best in Category" award in the Arts, Cultural, and Historic Preservation category. The award is the second NACo Achievement Award for addiction prevention efforts and the the sixth NACo Award for excellence in three years for County Executive Barry Glassman's administration. (WMAR-TV)

Governor, mayor to recreate summer kickoff tradition

With the arrival of Memorial Day weekend, local and state officials are renewing a traditional season kick-off event not seen in decades. Ocean City will celebrate the arrival of the summer of 2018 Friday by bringing back a ceremonial kickoff event that first took place over 70 years ago. In 1946, Maryland Governor Harry O’Connor and Ocean City Mayor Daniel Trimper, Jr. kicked off the summer season by meeting on the beach and planting a ceremonial umbrella in the sand. (Dispatch)

Comptroller to promote summer tourism in Garrett County

Comptroller Peter Franchot will visit Garrett County on Wednesday, part of a statewide pre-summer promotion of family-friendly venues. Franchot will start at the Simon Pearce Factory Store and Glassblowing Workshop to present a proclamation and tour the studio. The facility opened in 1999 and is an expansion of the factory’s headquarters in Vermont, founded by Simon Pearce in 1981. (Times-News)

A Baltimore County police officer was killed in a confrontation Monday as she responded to an afternoon call in Perry Hall, setting off an hours-long manhunt for suspects as police searched densely populated suburban neighborhoods. The officer’s death prompted outcry throughout the state, and the search left nearly 2,000 students stranded in their schools well into the evening as police looked for the suspects, considered armed and dangerous. (Balt. Sun)

Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa’s fall from top cop to criminal defendant came into sharp relief Monday, when he agreed in federal court to surrender his passport and any firearms he owns as he awaits trial on the tax charges that led to his recent resignation. During a brief hearing before Chief Magistrate Judge Beth Gesner in U.S. District Court downtown, De Sousa was formally advised of the three misdemeanor charges against him and agreed to several conditions on his freedom pending trial. (Balt. Sun)

Anne Arundel County Council strengthens medical marijuana rules

The Anne Arundel County Council unanimously voted Monday night to strengthen special requirements for medical marijuana developments, a move that will make it even harder for developers to find sites but will appease residents who have been frustrated with project approvals they view in defiance of county rules. The bill prohibits granting variances on special requirements related to medical marijuana developments. (Capital)

Mayor Gavin Buckley ousts longtime historic preservation chairwoman

Mayor Gavin Buckley, ahead of a City Council meeting dealing with controversial Historic District rezoning, announced on Monday he will replace the longtime chairwoman of the Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission. Sharon Kennedy, who has held the position since 2003, butted heads with Buckley during the fight over a mural painted without permits on his West Street restaurant, Tsunami. (Capital)

High-tech flood monitoring planned for Ellicott City watershed

In an effort to better monitor the “veins” of the heart of historic Ellicott City, its waterways, officials on Monday announced plans to install “EKGs,” as county councilman Jon Weinstein called them— stream gauges that experts say will help them analyze water flow patterns and buy residents valuable time to make preparations for flooding. Forty-eight gauges will be installed at 16 locations throughout the surrounding Tiber-Hudson watershed through a partnership with the National Weather Service and the Department of Homeland Security. (Ho. Co. Times)